"On the Inside" is the theme song for the Australian soap opera Prisoner (known as Prisoner: Cell Block H in some territories). It was written by Allan Caswell and performed by Lynne Hamilton.
Caswell recalls that his "publisher was having lunch with a guy from Grundy's one Friday and asked what they had coming up. They already had music for Prisoner, but the final decision was being made on the Monday and if we could get something to them by then they'd listen to it. I didn't get a chance to work on it until the Sunday afternoon. It was like buying a lottery ticket – either I write something and it might get accepted or I don't write something and not give myself a chance."[1] Caswell recorded the song on a portable cassette player "and gave it to his publisher who delivered it without listening to it. Within five days, I was in the studio with Lynne Hamilton. She got half way through the song and burst into tears. Anyone who believed in it like that was going to do a good version of it."[1]
An alternative version of this song was used in the credits of the Season One finale, Episode 79,[2] and again in Episode 151. On this version, there is a small guitar intro and the orchestration is slightly different. This particular version is not available on the soundtrack and was only used during the credits at the end of the show on rare occasions. The song alternated with an orchestra-only version of this track during the first two seasons.
Chartsedit
Weekly chartsedit
The song was a hit in Australia in 1979 when the television show was launched, and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1989 when the show attracted millions of viewers in its late night slot in ITV regions.[3][4]
Side B "Love Theme from "Prisoner"" performed by William Mottling Orchestra – 2:23
Infringementedit
In 2009, writer Allan Caswell alleged that Alabama's song "Christmas in Dixie" was 'ripped off' from "On the Inside", but conceded that legal action was unlikely as both he and Alabama were signed to Sony.[11]
Cover versionsedit
The song was recorded as a slower country ballad by Patti Page; coincidently the series of Prisoner was enormously popular in the United States, where it was known as Prisoner: Cell Block H.[12]
The song was rerecorded and released by singer Ella Hooper to coincide with Foxtel's Australian re-run of the series, which started in March 2011.[13]
Reggae singer Donna Marie has also recorded a version, with minor alterations to some lines.
Although the song was not used as the theme for Wentworth, the 2013 reimagining of Prisoner, it was briefly heard in the pilot episode, being hummed by Jacs Holt (played by Kris McQuade), the show's main antagonist. The original Lynn Hamilton single version of "On the Inside" was, however, used on the closing credits of the final episode of Wentworth (titled "Legacy") in Australia, which aired 26 October 2021, whilst a modern cover version was used on the UK broadcast on Five Star later the same day.
Releasesedit
It was released in the United States on Hilltak 7903.[14][15]
Referencesedit
^ abDoughty J (8 October 1987). "Allan Caswell Loves His Country". The Courier-Mail. Nationwide News Pty Limited.
^Prisoner: Cell Block H - Episode 79. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
^Jon E. Lewis; Penny Stempel (1996). Cult TV: the essential critical guide. Pavilion Books. p. 222.
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For the song by Richard Marx see Inside My Head album On the Inside is the theme song for the Australian soap opera Prisoner known as Prisoner Cell Block H in some territories It was written by Allan Caswell and performed by Lynne Hamilton On the Inside Single by Lynne Hamiltonfrom the album On the InsideB sideLove Theme from Prisoner Cell Block H ReleasedMarch 1979Recorded1978GenrePopLength3 10LabelA1Songwriter s Allan CaswellLynne Hamilton singles chronology On the Inside 1979 Sorry 1980 Contents 1 Background and recording 2 Charts 2 1 Weekly charts 2 2 Year end charts 3 Track listings 4 Infringement 5 Cover versions 6 Use in Wentworth revival 7 Releases 8 ReferencesBackground and recording editCaswell recalls that his publisher was having lunch with a guy from Grundy s one Friday and asked what they had coming up They already had music for Prisoner but the final decision was being made on the Monday and if we could get something to them by then they d listen to it I didn t get a chance to work on it until the Sunday afternoon It was like buying a lottery ticket either I write something and it might get accepted or I don t write something and not give myself a chance 1 Caswell recorded the song on a portable cassette player and gave it to his publisher who delivered it without listening to it Within five days I was in the studio with Lynne Hamilton She got half way through the song and burst into tears Anyone who believed in it like that was going to do a good version of it 1 An alternative version of this song was used in the credits of the Season One finale Episode 79 2 and again in Episode 151 On this version there is a small guitar intro and the orchestration is slightly different This particular version is not available on the soundtrack and was only used during the credits at the end of the show on rare occasions The song alternated with an orchestra only version of this track during the first two seasons Charts editWeekly charts edit The song was a hit in Australia in 1979 when the television show was launched and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1989 when the show attracted millions of viewers in its late night slot in ITV regions 3 4 Chart 1979 1981 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 5 4New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 6 5Chart 1989 PeakpositionIreland IRMA 7 11UK Singles OCC 8 3Year end charts edit Chart 1979 PositionAustralia Kent Music Report 9 10 23Track listings editAustralian 7 single RCA Victor 103316 Side A On the Inside 3 11 Side B Love Theme from Prisoner performed by William Mottling Orchestra 2 23Infringement editIn 2009 writer Allan Caswell alleged that Alabama s song Christmas in Dixie was ripped off from On the Inside but conceded that legal action was unlikely as both he and Alabama were signed to Sony 11 Cover versions editThe song was recorded as a slower country ballad by Patti Page coincidently the series of Prisoner was enormously popular in the United States where it was known as Prisoner Cell Block H 12 The song was rerecorded and released by singer Ella Hooper to coincide with Foxtel s Australian re run of the series which started in March 2011 13 Reggae singer Donna Marie has also recorded a version with minor alterations to some lines It was also covered by the Living End titled Prisoner on the Inside Use in Wentworth revival editAlthough the song was not used as the theme for Wentworth the 2013 reimagining of Prisoner it was briefly heard in the pilot episode being hummed by Jacs Holt played by Kris McQuade the show s main antagonist The original Lynn Hamilton single version of On the Inside was however used on the closing credits of the final episode of Wentworth titled Legacy in Australia which aired 26 October 2021 whilst a modern cover version was used on the UK broadcast on Five Star later the same day Releases editIt was released in the United States on Hilltak 7903 14 15 References edit a b Doughty J 8 October 1987 Allan Caswell Loves His Country The Courier Mail Nationwide News Pty Limited Prisoner Cell Block H Episode 79 YouTube Archived from the original on 11 December 2021 Jon E Lewis Penny Stempel 1996 Cult TV the essential critical guide Pavilion Books p 222 New statesman society Volume 2 Statesman amp Nation Pub Co Ltd 1989 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives NSW Australian Chart Book p 132 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 NOTE Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid 1988 Lynne Hamilton On the Inside Top 40 Singles Retrieved 3 October 2017 The Irish Charts Search Results On the Inside Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 25 June 2020 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 14 October 2017 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives NSW Australian Chart Book p 431 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 NOTE Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid 1988 Kent Music Report No 288 31 December 1979 gt National Top 100 Singles for 1979 Kent Music Report Retrieved 10 January 2023 via Imgur com Fed US group ripped off Prisoner theme tune musician AAP Newsfeed Sydney 8 May 2010 Bourke Terry Prisoner Cell Block H Behind the Scenes Angus and Robertson UK Alice Coster Nicola Webber Kate McMahon 4 March 2011 Tattle Herald Sun Australia p 24 Global Dog Productions 45 Discography for Hilltak Records Cash Box September 15 1979 Page 12 Hilltak Drops Atlantic Chooses Indie Distribs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title On the Inside song amp oldid 1177174417, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
